It’s Christmas time and a time for celebrating, even if you’re alone! Aside from watching films and making love, we all love listening to our favourite music at full volume. Our Chief Editor has made a flammable list for you to rock with your loved ones, friends or even by yourself!

“I’ve made this for almost everyone – for those who have fallen in love this year or those who are still together after many years, those who lost their loves or friends or family members, those who are apart from each other and those who have new family members. And for those who are tired of this sad and horrible year and wish a brighter and better 2017. So here you go, rock it and don’t forget you love your neighbours, so rock it louder!
Merry Christmas!

Frontiers Music Srl is excited to announce the release of the brand new studio album from baroque Danish Metal Stars ROYAL HUNT entitled “Devil’s Dozen” on August 21st in Europe and North America.

With keyboardist and songwriter André Andersen still at the helm, ROYAL HUNT have once again created an album that combines the basic sound and core values of classic rock with progressive rock and more current musical elements. After selling approximately 1.7 million albums globally and touring the world numerous times, the band’s still going strong…and now gets to release their 13th studio album entitled “The Devil´s Dozen”.

André Andersen says: “We´re very pleased to be able to present our new, thirteenth studio album. While staying on course with all traditional Royal Hunt´s musical values this one contains quite a bit of variety – from an up-tempo, double kick driven “May You Never (Walk Alone)” to the bluesy “Heart On A Platter” and probably our best ballad to date – “Until The Day”. Counting in Royal Hunt´s usual attention to details – playing wise as well as production wise – I´m sure that any fan of symphonic/melodic yet hard rocking music will be pleased with our latest offering.”

The new recording stays true to the original, larger-than-life Royal Hunt sound, with imaginative instrumentation, intricate arrangements, soaring vocals and catchy, massive choruses. Yet, the addition of classical musicians/instruments and contemporary, modern day production elements move to twist the outcome into a unique sonic palette. The album is chock full of carefully crafted songs, recorded and mixed by a team who combined crystal clear sonics with a weighty punch.

Featuring once again the talents of the awesome US singer DC Cooper – who, after numerous requests from fans and promoters worldwide decided to reunite with the band in 2011 – Royal Hunt features – besides André Andersen on keyboards – long time member Andreas Passmark on bass, Jonas Larsen on guitar and new drummer Andreas Habo Johansson (ex Narnia). Royal Rock… no substitutes!

“Devil’s Dozen” tracklisting: So Right So Wrong; May You Never (Walk Alone); Heart On A Platter; A Tear In The Rain; Until The Day; Riches To Rags; Way Too Late; How Do You Know (bonus track).

Rich Davenport’s Rock Show this week features exclusive interviews with guitar maestro Axel Rudi Pell, Royal Hunt mastermind Andre Andersen, Gary Meskill of Pro-Pain/Darkhaus and Coldspell guitarist Michael Larsson, and is available now for streaming at this link.

In the first hour of the show, Axel Rudi Pell talks about his chart-storming new album “Into The Storm”, recruiting former Rainbow/ Black Sabbath/BOC drummer Bobby Rondinelli, and the band’s plans to mark their 25th anniversary this year. Axel also selects two songs from “Into The Storm”.

More melodic Metal follows from Royal Hunt, as keyboard maestro Andre Andersen gives the lowdown on their new album “A Life To Die For”, which sees the band working with orchestral instruments and a choir, with two tracks from the new release.

In part 2, Coldspell guitarist Michael Larsson discusses the band’s latest album “Frozen Paradise” and their well-received appearance at Melodicrockfest 3. Michael also chooses two tracks from the new album, and also picks a Thin Lizzy number for the show’s weekly Phil Lynott tribute spot.

And finally, Pro-Pain mainman Gary Meskill takes us through two exciting new releases, the face melting old-school Hardcore of Pro-Pain’s new album “The Final Revolution”, and the debut release from his new project, international Synth-Rock outfit Darkhaus, whose original sound blends ripping guitars and memorable melodies with influences from early 80s electronica.

ROYAL HUNT are gearing up for the release of their 12th studio album, A Life To Die For. It will be issued as a regular CD, 180 gram gatefold vinyl LP, and Digipack CD/DVD featuring tour footage from 2012, a tour documentary and interviews. Cover art can be viewed below along with the tracklist:

Royal Hunt recently checked in with a second episode of their studio video diary below:

“Our next video is all about Andreas: a man who walked 800 km from an unidentified location somewhere in yet-to-be-discovered part of Sweden to Copenhagen only to share his musical vision with us and – in due time – with all of you. This is a story of a man who drinks vodka for breakfast, eats pieces of metal for dinner (by the way, where’s Allan’s ride cymbal?!!!), creates elaborate bass lines while reading his daily newspaper and whose personality (well-known as highly unpredictable and extremely violent) can ONLY be controlled by the use of gardening equipment. Intrigued? Watch our second episode of Studio Diary.”

1. Running Wild
2. Kingdom Dark
3. On The Run
4. Clown In The Mirror
5. Making A Mess
6. Time
7. Tearing Down The World
8. Silent Screams
9. Fear
10. Sea Of Time

Royal Hunt is a progressive metal band based in Denmark, founded in 1989 by keyboardist Andre Andersen. The band is known for creating melodic music with a progressive and symphonic flair. They made a huge success during mid-90s with vocalist D.C. Cooper on their classic albums Moving Target and Paradox mainly in Japan and Europe. They have experienced several lineup changes throughout their history, in 2007 they acquired singer Mark Boals, who replaced former vocalist John West. In 2011 after numerous requests from fans and promoters worldwide they decided to reunite with their former vocalist D. C. Cooper for a special tour, covering the first four albums of the band. They have since recorded a new album entitled Show Me How to Live featuring the returning D.C. Cooper as their permanent vocalist moving forward. They have sold more than 1 million albums worldwide.

This Best of Album covers the first five albums from Land Of Broken Hearts to Fear that the band released from 1992 – 1999

The album starts with Running Wild starts with radio or tv excerpts then the keyboards come then the vocals this song has a really good beat very clean vocals, symphonic keyboards, stunning solo’s whether its guitars or keyboards. The song also has very catchy lyrics that will get you singing along to by the end of the song. The next song is Kingdom Dark starts off wit the keyboards with an intro sequence then comes in a nice guitar riff, again the song has good clean melodic vocals. The song itself is again very upbeat with very good melodic tones and riffs. On The Run comes next on the album starts with an intro riff on the guitars then the keyboards come in and together merge with the same riff which is really good. The song its self is very full of great riffs either on keyboards or guitar and the vocals are spot on. Clown In The Mirror starts off slow on the keyboards with a lovely little piece, the vocals come in softly but perfectly balanced it is one of those songs that gave me goose pimples just hearing it, it is that good. The melodic sound of this song is just brilliant. The solo work on it is outstanding and I would have to say it was one of my favourites on the album. Making A Mess starts off with an intro then explodes into life with the keyboards and upbeat drums, The guitar work is very good and the vocals on this very symphonic song are again just brilliant the lyrics are clean and well written. Times starts off with an acoustic guitar and very low clean vocals then it bursts into life with its melodic riffs and catchy vocals and symphonic keyboards which is the trade mark of this band. Tearing Down The World starts off with the keyboards in a very upbeat style which get my foot tapping straight away then the melodic vocals come in. Throughout the whole song it is full of great catchy lyrics, awesome riffs and very good quality solos on the guitar and on the keyboard. Silent Screams starts off with some medieval keyboarding which sound great then the guitars come in with a cracking riff which gets me rocking instantly. The vocals come in which again are precise and hit the spot, the keyboarding on this song much like the rest of the album is outstanding, Also the guitars riffs are of the highest quality. Fear is the title of the fifth album and is the longest on this track on this album. It starts off with talking I am sure it is from a film but not sure then the keyboard and vocals come in after a short while the bass riff takes over with the keyboards and guitar following with some good riffs. It has an eerie feel to this song in which makes the song perfect due to the name the vocals are well balanced and precise. The guitar riffs are very well done and the keyboards make the whole song so balanced in that is perfect it tells a great story of Fear. Sea Of Time starts with a ticking clock and church bells ringing then the keyboards come in with a really good guitar riff along side it. It then goes into a stunning little solo after the solo the vocals take over which again are very melodic and precise. This is a really good quality song in which it tells you the perfect story.

Overall

This is a really classic album spanning seven years of the start of the bands era. This is an absolutely brilliant album it has everything clean melodic vocals, symphonic keyboards, awesome guitar riffs and stunning solos. This is what I would call a best of album the songs was delivered with perfection musically and lyrically. I would definitely go out and buy this myself it is a upbeat feel good album.